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Show HN: I built an online interactive course that helps you learn Vim faster

vim.so

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Re: Show HN: I built an online interactive course that helps you learn Vim faster

#171
post #105
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For anyone wondering, you use it by executing vimtutor in terminal (not in vim). Also, you exit by pressing ESC and then typing :q (hit enter)

How fitting that the tutorial for vim needs its own pre-tutorial for exiting.

Before replying to your post I upvoted, I had to hit a link called [REPLY]

Re: Show HN: I built an online interactive course that helps you learn Vim faster

#172
post #161
post #31

Before trying these courses , Please try vimtutor that comes bundled with vim . After practicing with vimtutor , you can try these additional courses.

Looks like "vimtutor" is primarily text explaining the hotkeys. For me, the bottleneck to picking up vim has not been merely knowing the hotkeys, but more internalizing the commands and building muscle memory. The interactive game format of this website could possibly solve that, so it appeals to me.

vimtutor is designed for you to use it regularly to train muscle memory

Re: Show HN: I built an online interactive course that helps you learn Vim faster

#173

Well I think the nice point of doing excercise in a web browser is that you can quickly switch to another tab and search for daring questions such as " by the way why on earth does this monstrosity want me to use hjkl? That don't make any sense!!!!" https://catonmat.net/why-vim-uses-hjkl-as-arrow-keys For a mostly data/SQL guy wanting to learn more about coding it still don't make much sense but at least I know why a…

HJKL also allows you to keep your fingers on the homerow at all times which is really great. I had issues with RSI that when away when I started using Vim properly. Travelling to the arrow keys now feels like a painful task to me! Of course, as a sibling comment mentioned, hjkl is the worst way to move around--"power users" generally only use them to move a char/line or two.

Not when using Dvorak, here's how it maps from Qwerty: H->J J->C K->V L->P

Still works pretty well, i've gotten used to it.

Re: Show HN: I built an online interactive course that helps you learn Vim faster

#174
post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't understand that line of reasoning, and it seems like you're being obstinate for the sake of being obstinate. I hope you understand that even though you might feel one way, other people may think another and there's no orthodoxy. Have a good day.

Of course people have different opinions. That's not what you said though. You said brains work differently.

Brains do work differently - if they didn't, everyone would learn at exactly the same pace if given exactly the same input, and people would all have the same preferences. There's a reason why the term "neurotypical" exists.

You don't like what I like, and that's fine, but I can tell you that I like the design of older computer systems more than I like the design of modern computer systems. There's a reason why I use the tools I do and why I can write really good software really fast with them.

You can argue that they're dated, and that's fine, but you're arguing that if we like them that we're wrong, and that's not okay.

I'm realize I'm shouting at the wind, though.

Re: Show HN: I built an online interactive course that helps you learn Vim faster

#175

Well I think the nice point of doing excercise in a web browser is that you can quickly switch to another tab and search for daring questions such as " by the way why on earth does this monstrosity want me to use hjkl? That don't make any sense!!!!" https://catonmat.net/why-vim-uses-hjkl-as-arrow-keys For a mostly data/SQL guy wanting to learn more about coding it still don't make much sense but at least I know why a…

HJKL also allows you to keep your fingers on the homerow at all times which is really great. I had issues with RSI that when away when I started using Vim properly. Travelling to the arrow keys now feels like a painful task to me! Of course, as a sibling comment mentioned, hjkl is the worst way to move around--"power users" generally only use them to move a char/line or two.

On the other side, it is probably the most unnecessary inflicted pain for beginners. Even after years of using vim on a daily basis, I can't get used to hjkl and still use the arrow keys. I tried a few times with different approaches, but it never lasted more than a few days. So pushing someone new to use hjkl for navigation is so unnecessary and just kills a lot of motivation for very little value.

Starting with deleting, yanking and pasting would be a lot more fun. Even navigation with gg and G plus numbers would be a lot more useful too. Like when you get an error message that is caused by line 42, you know why you want to use vim next time.

Re: Show HN: I built an online interactive course that helps you learn Vim faster

#176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does the dot command do?

Repeats the same command previously run. So if you used 'ci"' for (change text in quotes) and entered a new string, you can jump to a new line and hit . to replay your last series of commands.

I only ever made it to running searches within vim with forward slash, but thanks this is useful to know. I love only using the keyboard but can never easily internalize all the useful macros that can be used.

Re: Show HN: I built an online interactive course that helps you learn Vim faster

#177

Can someone please explain to me why I should learn vim? I've made several attempts in my lifetime because I thought there would be some magical "ah-ha" moment, but it never came. Separate modes for command & insert just feels inherently clumsy and slow to me. Is there some other killer feature that can't or hasn't been reproduced by modern editors?

For me, it's mostly the key bindings rather than the program itself. I use vim key bindings on whatever the latest $editor is rather than learning its keyboard navigation. I got introduced to vim very early on though.

Re: Show HN: I built an online interactive course that helps you learn Vim faster

#178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

HJKL also allows you to keep your fingers on the homerow at all times which is really great. I had issues with RSI that when away when I started using Vim properly. Travelling to the arrow keys now feels like a painful task to me! Of course, as a sibling comment mentioned, hjkl is the worst way to move around--"power users" generally only use them to move a char/line or two.

On the other side, it is probably the most unnecessary inflicted pain for beginners. Even after years of using vim on a daily basis, I can't get used to hjkl and still use the arrow keys. I tried a few times with different approaches, but it never lasted more than a few days. So pushing someone new to use hjkl for navigation is so unnecessary and just kills a lot of motivation for very little value. Starting with del…

Opposite problem: I get so used to hjkl, I screw up everywhere else for awhile.

Re: Show HN: I built an online interactive course that helps you learn Vim faster

#179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

HJKL also allows you to keep your fingers on the homerow at all times which is really great. I had issues with RSI that when away when I started using Vim properly. Travelling to the arrow keys now feels like a painful task to me! Of course, as a sibling comment mentioned, hjkl is the worst way to move around--"power users" generally only use them to move a char/line or two.

On the other side, it is probably the most unnecessary inflicted pain for beginners. Even after years of using vim on a daily basis, I can't get used to hjkl and still use the arrow keys. I tried a few times with different approaches, but it never lasted more than a few days. So pushing someone new to use hjkl for navigation is so unnecessary and just kills a lot of motivation for very little value. Starting with del…

The way I got used to hjkl home row was by completely disabling the arrow keys in my vimrc file (in normal and insert modes). I was struggling before that though.
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